Accountability Team

Purpose

To guide the long-term work of the UUA in living out its commitments to justice, liberation, anti-oppression, and full inclusion through sustained, ongoing, high-level engagement and feedback with the UUA’s elected and appointed leaders.

Overview

In 2020, the UUA’s Commission on Institutional Change (COIC) issued its report and recommendations entitled “Widening the Circle of Concern.” These recommendations emphasized the need for ongoing systems to ensure the UUA continues its work to address institutional racism and oppression against UUs with historically marginalized identities.

BACKGROUND

The Accountability Launch Team (ALT) 2022–2024 was appointed in 2022 to guide and support the first round of this systemic work, shaping its own function and focus in partnership with the Board and Administration. The ALT’s purpose was to be involved in real-time with the key decisions the UUA made about how to advance equity and liberation through its governance, resources, and priorities, recognizing this is an effort that will require years of work.

Priorities of the ALT

• Defining and Practicing Accountability: Developing an understanding of accountability focuses on restoration of relationships and ensuring harm does not continue, rather than the flavor of fault-finding and punishment, is crucial for dismantling white supremacy and patriarchal culture. The ALT may help define accountability within the UUA, and to develop and disseminate practices so it may be integrated at every level.

• Reviewing Resource Allocation: Money represents a different form of power, both in how it is earned (investments and fundraising) and how funds are allocated. The ALT may engage with the Board and its committees on key issues, such as reparations and ensuring funding of programs that help our UUA live its mission and values.

• Advising on Board & UUA Governance: The UUA Board embraces a policy-based governance model and derives its authority from the UUA General Assembly and UUA Bylaws. The ALT may help the Board refine a governance model that reflects our anti-racist, anti-oppression and multicultural values, and advise on potential changes to the UUA Bylaws in parallel. The ALT raised the following potential topic areas for further conversation to narrow this list with the Board:

  • General Assembly, and especially the experience of members of marginalized communities at GACongregational relationships, and the opportunities to build connection between and among congregations following the regionalization process;
  • Governance practices, including the UUA Governance Manual and the Bylaws Renewal Team

Appointment

This position will be appointed by the UUA Board of Trustees. The initial term will be 2 years with the possibility for renewal. Time Commitment 10-15 hours per month, inclusive of meeting time as well as follow-up communications, preparation and review. Attendance at a potential retreat.

Qualifications

• Experience as a member, volunteer, or participant in Unitarian Universalist religious communities; qualified candidates who support UU values and principles and who may have other religious experiences may also apply.

• Demonstrated personal and/or professional commitment to counter white supremacy, patriarchy, colonialism, and other systems of oppression.

• Experience in leading or supporting changes and processes within organizations to advance justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

• Lived or work experience in Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, trans/gender nonbinary communities, and disabled communities, are of particular value.

• Ability to think creatively and analytically.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Highest levels of ethics and integrity.

Supporting the Success of the Accountability Team

• Covenant – The Accountability Team and the Board will collaboratively develop a covenant to guide their work together. The Team and the Board will periodically assess how well we are working consistently with that covenant.

• Access – Members of the Accountability Team will have access to Board communications and meeting groups, and will receive direct interaction with the Co-Moderators, President, and other senior staff and leaders.

• Honoring roles and recommendations – The Board and the Administration pledge to receive feedback and recommendations from the Accountability Team in the spirit of collegiality and commitment to anti-racism, anti-oppression, and multiculturalism.

• Budget and staff support – The Accountability Team will continue to have the support of staff liaisons, and the UUA will provide administrative staff support. The Accountability Team will receive a budget to cover stipends, meetings, travel and expenses, supplies, etc. Additionally, the budget will provide for outside consultant support (as selected by the Accountability Team members) to provide professional capacity and expertise to the Team.

• Reimbursement, stipends and support – The UUA is committed to removing barriers to ensure that individuals with historically marginalized identities can be members of the ALT. Some people can serve as volunteers, some need compensation for lost income, and some may need other forms of support or care. The Board will work with each member to ensure they have the financial and logistical support (including supplies and technology) they need to fully participate. Members will be offered an annual stipend, and travel expenses (e.g., to General Assembly) will be reimbursed. We learn as we go, and the support or approach may be adjusted to reflect what is learned.

Aspiration of the UUA

We seek to create a Unitarian Universalist Association which embodies our faith’s aspiration to the beloved community, and in which people of all backgrounds and identities can thrive. We work to support our congregations and leaders to be sources of justice, equity, compassion and liberation in their communities and the wider world.

Equipping Congregations and Communities

• Grounded in their theological commitments to anti-racism and in covenantal relationships for accountability;

• Embodied, practicing anti-racist ministry and leadership, in worship and faith development as well as in the workplace, committees and administration;

• Inclusive, welcoming, and meaningful for people of all races, genders, and abilities, and through all stages of life, from childhood through older adulthood.

Training and Supporting Leaders

• Relational - affirming the wholeness of the people they serve, across cultures and experiences, including engaging in productive conflict;

• Adaptive - leading in inclusive and innovative ways, able to navigate challenges our communities face;

• Equitable and sustainable - especially for leaders from the margins, with a pathway for the next generation.

Advancing UU Values

• Rooted in the spiritual and political grounding for our justice work, growing the skills needed for organizing and partnership;

• Taking Action – mobilizing in solidarity with and leadership by those impacted by injustice;

• Prophetic – amplifying the prophetic message and voices of our faith.